Much like Moza’s FSR 2 Formula Wheel, the CM2 HD Racing Dash is a follow-up to a previously highly rated, if flawed, sim racing product.
Like the original, the elephant in the room for the CM2 HD Racing Dash is its lack of SimHub compatibility, closing the door on a plethora of customised dashboard designs and the extra immersion they create.
However, it’s now possible to download and create dashboard designs and implement them via Moza’s Pit House software.
It’s still a 5-inch screen but the resolution has been upped from 800×480 to 1280×720; it’s also a touch screen. There are additional shift and flag LED lights too, and the chassis has been given a more curvaceous design overhaul.
Is it worth $199 / €219 / £195, however? Find out below.
Flash dash
Installing the CM2 on my Moza R12 wheelbase was straightforward, with two teeny screws holding it in place. A USB connection to the PC powers the CM2, while an RJ11 connector goes between the dash and the wheelbase. You can of course use the CM2 separately if you own a different wheelbase, but you’ll still need Pit House to make the most of it.
The CM2 shows up immediately in Pit House where you can begin selecting which of the default dashes you’d like to pre-load. Alternatively, you can download some community-made dashes from Moza’s official repository, some of which are based on real-world racecar displays.
So far I’ve sampled a McLaren 720S GT3-style layout and a Ferrari 296 GT3 dash for the FSR 2 steering wheel. Both are good quality but the variety of dashes available is poor at the moment. Expect more to be uploaded in future, however
One of the CM2’s biggest strengths is the clarity of its 720p screen. Its refresh rate (60 Hz) is quick enough to display rapidly fluctuating rev information and clear enough to read even with bright ambient lighting. The contrast is very impressive, with deep blacks setting the tone for precise information relay.
Its touchscreen abilities are also solid, although it’s unlikely you’ll need to change the dash page mid-race. The rev and flag lights are a welcome addition and offer helpful reminders while you’re in the thick of the action. They’re not vital upgrades but useful nonetheless.
Its build quality is suitably solid too, with adjustment screws on its rear allowing players to move the unit up or down to suit their steering wheel position.
Rally time
While using the FSR2 Steering Wheel – which already has a sizeable screen – I found the CM2 to be surplus to requirements, but it really came into its own when playing Richard Burns Rally. For me, its clear display was ideal as a large gear display, also telling me when to shift as the display changed colour from black-to-yellow-to-red (much like a Rally2 car).
Needless to say, if your main steering wheel has a screen then a dashboard display unit may not be for you.
A worthy upgrade?
For $199 / €219 / £195 the CM2 is one of the most accomplished DDUs on the market and if you already own a Moza wheelbase and need a DDU it’ll be a worthwhile addition.
However, it’s still possible to purchase a SimHub-compatible screen from a third-party supplier for around the same money, offering even more customisability and flexibility.
Moza’s move to offer its own dash customisation tools is admirable, but judging from the lack of community-made dashes available now it hasn’t quite caught the imagination of sim racers yet (only one dash was uploaded in February, for example, with zero uploads in March so far)
The CM2 is undoubtedly a good piece of kit, but it’s so close to being great.
Those looking for that extra level of personalisation may want to look elsewhere.
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